Engage, Explore, Emerge

Emerge Bioscience is an interactive career development workshop series for advanced professional degree students in the life sciences. Through internal assessment of strengths and motivations, participants will map broader career paths and build a career development plan. Participants will leave with the toolkit required to land the career of their choice.

The Challenge

In this constantly changing world with its multitude and variety of opportunities and risks, individuals need to think carefully about their career choices. Current statistics indicate that less than 10% of entering life sciencePhD graduate students will become tenure-track faculty. However, the skills and expertise of scientists are valued in many organizations and there is a wide variety of careers possible outside academia. How do you find your fit if you are looking beyond the bench?

88%

88% of graduate students and post-doctoral fellows do not feel prepared to build a plan for their career

The Solution: Emerge Bioscience

Emerge Bioscience workshops and courses help participants map broader career paths, define and translate the value of their skills in academic and non-academic organizations, and create their own career development plan to bridge the gap between where they are, and where they would like to go in their professional career.

Through workshops, individual research, panel discussions, informational interviews and networking events, participants explore the diversity of career paths open to individuals with PhD training in the sciences, assess their personal values, skills, and experiences and develop the skills and toolkit needed to find a job that fits.

95%

More than 95% of Emerge Alumni feel confident about their professional future, prepared to build a plan, and land a job of interest!

“This workshop really taught me that I already have the skills required and there are many career possibilities! Thank you very much for giving me the confidence to define my future the way I want it to be.”

Emerge alumni find great positions

Our students go to work for a variety of organizations in industry, non-profit, and academia.

Michelle Smith

PhD Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology

Consultant at Boston Consulting Group

John Vincent

PhD Plant Biological Sciences

Data Analyst at Concur

Aleardo Morelli

PhD Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Research Scientist at Adaptimmune

Lydia Kotecki

PhD Pharmacology

Medical Research Manager at NAMSA

Meet The Emerge Team

Barbara Nelsen, PhD

Barbara is the founder of Nelsen Biomedical, a consulting practice providing technology commercialization and business growth strategies to life science companies. In addition, she is the founder of Emerge Bioscience, sits on the board of BMoGen and of Discovery Capital, and is an advisor to iPropel and the University of Minnesota’s NIH REACH program.

Lauren Celano

Lauren is the founder of Propel Careers, a recruitment firm focused on delivering a wide array of placement and career development services in the life sciences sector. Lauren speaks nationally on career options, job search strategies, and building competitive profiles. Propel developed an NIH BEST Grant in conjunction with Boston University.

“The secret sauce to the Emerge success is the leadership. Barbara and Lauren have walked the walk! They are successful, clever, and thoughtful scientists with entrepreneurial credentials and the keen insights that come from years of experience within the private sector.”

– Tom Hays, Associate Dean of Research, College of Biological Sciences at University of Minnesota

Emerge Institute is proud to have the support of professionals and organizations seeking to advance career opportunities for those with graduate degrees in the sciences.